The United Nations climate summit in Glasgow proved less than welcoming for a disabled Israeli minister on Monday, and she was forced to be absent from the first day of the events.
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Energy Minister Karine Elharrar, who has muscular dystrophy and is wheelchair-bound, told local media that she was unable to participate in the COP26 summit on Monday because neither the premises nor the shuttle offered to attendees are wheelchair-accessible.
Speaking with Channel 12 News, Elharrar said that when she arrived at the conference grounds, she found that the only way to actually get there from the gathering area were to walk or board a special shuttle that was not suited for a wheelchair.
Elharrar's office said that she tried to reason with organizers for two hours, but they refused to let her enter the compound in the vehicle in which she arrived. She was eventually forced to return to her hotel in Edinburgh.
"The only way they said I could come in was to walk on foot for almost a kilometer, or to board a shuttle which was not wheelchair accessible," she told Channel 12 News.
"I came to COP26 to meet my counterparts in the world and advance our joint struggle against the climate crisis," Elharrar tweeted. "It's sad that the United Nations, which promotes accessibility for people with disabilities, in 2021 doesn't worry about accessibility at its own events."
I am disturbed to hear that @KElharrar was unable to attend meetings at #COP26 I apologise deeply and sincerely to the Minister. We want a COP Summit that is welcoming and inclusive to everyone.
— Neil Wigan (@FCDONeilWigan) November 1, 2021
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett phoned Elharrar once he learned of the incident and told her it he found it "unacceptable" that she was left out of the summit, his office said in a statement.
Bennett ordered that Elharrar's vehicle be appended to his official convoy, thus ensuring her entry to the summit grounds.
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, who heads Elharrar's Yesh Atid party, said, "It is impossible to take care of the future, the climate, and sustainability if we don't first take care of people, accessibility, and people with disabilities."
Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg called the incident "outrageous," saying, "I hope this issue is resolved by tomorrow [Tuesday] so that Karin can do her job as a minister in the Israeli government."
British Ambassador to Israel, Neil Wigan apologized for the mishap, tweeting, "I am disturbed to hear that Karine Elharrar was unable to attend meetings at COP26. I apologies deeply and sincerely to the minister. We want a COP Summit that is welcoming and inclusive to everyone."
Wigan also spoke with Israeli Ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely and apologized for the incident, saying that he will ensure that organizers on the ground can accommodate Elharrar's needs.
British officials said the incident was "serious" and will be reviewed to ensure nothing of this nature recurs.
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